Bonhams, New Bond Street, London – Sale of Irish Art

The long heralded launch of Bonhams Irish Art Department is nearly upon us. Bonhams will hold its first sale of Irish Art on the 9th February in New Bond Street, marking the end of the company’s long-standing association with Adams Auctioneers in Dublin. After twelve years of working jointly on Irish Art auctions, Bonhams and Adams have decided to hold separate sales.

Bonhams Irish Art Department is headed up by Penny Day, also a Senior Specialist in the 20th Century British Department at Bonhams. She joined 20th Century British & Irish Art at Bonhams in 2006, following a year with Christie’s British & Irish Art division. The Department will offer an annual sale including traditional and modern paintings, works on paper and sculpture, representing the very best of Irish art.

IRISH ART SALE

On: 9th February, 2011 at 2.00pm

108 Lots including works by Maurice Canning Wilks, Paul Henry, Jack B Yeats, Louis le Brocquy, Colin Middleton etc.etc. As usual it is one of the big names – Louis le Brocquy who is expected to fetch the top price (Lot.50), yet another of his heads, “ Image of Francis Bacon” which carries an incredible estimate of €71,000 – €95,000 for a barely visible image. However, this time I’ll let him away with it and I reserve my scorn for Lot.59. a childish daub by Séan McSweeney entitled “The Pool” which is like something my seven year old would have brought home from school a couple of years ago! You be the judge, here it is below in all its glory and carries an estimate of €3,600 – €4,700 – surely another candidate for “The Emperor’s New Clothes Award”?